Premium preformance ball joint and system

Abstract

Ball joints, systems in which they are used, and suspension systems in which the ball joint systems are employed. The ball joints, systems and suspension mechanisms are especially useful for racing vehicles in which premium performance is desired. As an additional feature, the products of this invention are especially appreciated because of the ability to quickly and easily replace or change them.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A metal ball joint comprising:
 an elongated shat having an upper end, a lower end, and a tapered portion extending between the upper and lower ends; 
 a ball located on the upper end of the elongated shaft, said ball having a continuous curved surface extending upwardly near the tapered portion of the shaft, said ball further having a flat surface located at the upper end of the shaft; 
 a housing having an outside surface, an inside vertical wall, an internal thread, and a lower end, said housing further having a curved bearing surface that is integral with and extends from said inside vertical wall, the curved bearing surface engages the curved surface of the ball adjacent the elongated shaft, an opening is formed in the housing for passage therethrough of the elongated shaft but not permitting passage therethrough of the ball such as to permit pivotal movement of the elongated shaft relative to the housing; 
 a retainer assembly having an upper portion, a lower portion, a cylindrical non-threaded surface, and a first thread, said retainer further having a curved seat engaging a second portion of the curved surface of the ball adjacent the flat; and 
 a threaded locking member having external threads and an opening for receiving a tool that is operable to advance the threaded locking member in and out of the housing, the locking member is threadable to a bore in the housing, the threaded locking member has a surface that impinges upon the cylindrical non-threaded surface of the retainer assembly, the locking member engages the retainer to form a stop to prevent the retainer from disengaging from the housing. 
 
     
     
       2. The ball joint as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the outside surface of said housing further comprises an attachment feature adapted for selective attachment of said housing to a support arm of a suspension system. 
     
     
       3. The ball joint as claimed in  claim 2 , where said attachment feature further comprises an external thread on the outside surface of the housing, said external thread being capable of attaching the housing to a thread on a support arm of the suspension system. 
     
     
       4. The ball joint as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said attachment feature further comprises a flange extending from a portion of the housing that can be secured to the support arm by at least one detachable fastener. 
     
     
       5. The ball joint as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said attachment feature further comprises a compression fit of the housing into at least one opening in a support arm. 
     
     
       6. An automotive suspension system wherein there is provided a first ball joint system comprising a first metal ball joint and a second ball joint system comprising a second metal ball joint as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
       7. The ball joint as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the locking member screws tightly against the retainer to affix the retainer relative to the housing. 
     
     
       8. The ball joint as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a lubrication void located between the ball and the retainer, the retainer and the housing being capable of maintaining a seal between the ball and the housing via pressure of lubricant in the lubrication void on the ball. 
     
     
       9. The ball joint as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a zerk, the zerk is capable of permitting the admission of a pressurized lubricant such that the pressurized lubricant exerts a pressure against the retainer and the ball to maintain pressure on the ball to maintain the ball against the seat of the housing. 
     
     
       10. The ball joint as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said locking member and retainer are adapted to be selectively separated from said housing allowing said elongated shaft to be removed from said housing, and a replacement shaft to be inserted inside said housing and the retainer to be again secured to said housing. 
     
     
       11. The ball joint as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the length of said elongated shaft and said replacement slat are different. 
     
     
       12. The metal ball joint as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an octagon shaped flange, the flange is operable to be engaged by a tool for rotating the joint relative to a suspension member of a vehicle. 
     
     
       13. A metal ball joint for use with a pressurized lubricant, the ball joint comprising:
 an elongated shaft having an upper end and a lower end, said elongated shaft being threaded on the lower end; 
 a ball surmounted on the upper end of the elongated shaft, said ball having a curved surface and further having a flat surface on the upper end of the elongated shaft; 
 a housing having an outside surface, an inside surface that is planar, a lower end, and a first thread, said housing further having a curved seat extending from the inside planer surface, the curved seat is disposed at the lower end of the housing to seat and engage the curved surface of the ball adjacent the elongated shaft, an opening is formed in the seat for passage therethrough of the elongated shaft but not permitting passage therethrough of the ball such as to permit pivotal movement of the elongated shaft relative to the housing; 
 a retainer having an upper surface, a lower end, and an arcuate-shaped non-threaded surface, said retainer having a seat disposed at the lower end thereof to seat and engage another portion of the curved surface of the ball adjacent the flat surface thereof and a lubricating port passing through the retainer, the lubricating port having a passageway, said port permitting the admission of a pressurized lubricant such that the pressurized lubricant exerts a pressure against the flat surface of the ball to maintain pressure on the ball to maintain the ball against the seat of the housing, the retainer being capable of maintaining a seal between the ball and the housing via the pressure of the lubricant on the flat surface of the ball; and 
 a fastener having external threads and a port that is operable to receive a tool that can rotate the fastener relative to the housing, the external threads of the fastener engages the first thread of the housing, the fastener includes a portion that biases directly against the arcuate-shaped non-threaded surface of the retainer to form a stop to prevent the retainer from axially disengaging from the housing, the fastener selectively secures the retainer to the housing and permits the retainer to be removed from the housing by removal of the fastener while the housing remains mounted to a vehicle. 
 
     
     
       14. The ball joint as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said housing further comprises an attachment feature adapted for selective attachment of said housing to a suspension member of a vehicle. 
     
     
       15. The ball joint as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the fastener is a set screw that is oriented perpendicularly to the arcuate-shaped surface of the retainer. 
     
     
       16. The ball joint as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said fastener and retainer are adapted to be selectively separated from said housing allowing said elongated shaft to be removed from said housing, and a replacement shaft to be inserted inside said housing and the retainer to be again secured to said housing. 
     
     
       17. The ball joint claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the elongated shaft can be removed and replaced with another elongated shaft. 
     
     
       18. A metal ball joint for use as a component of a suspension system, said ball joint comprising:
 a ball stud having an elongated shaft portion with an upper end with a ball, and a threaded portion at a lower end, said ball having a curved surface and a flat; 
 a housing having an outside surface with an attachment feature that is operable for selective attachment of said housing to a suspension system, the housing further having a lower end, and an internal thread; 
 a curved seat disposed at the lower end of the housing to seat and engage the curved surface of the ball; an opening formed in the first curved seat for passage therethrough of the elongated shaft but not permitting passage therethrough of the ball such as to permit pivotal movement of the elongated shaft relative to the housing; 
 a retainer having an upper surface, a circular non-threaded surface, and a lower end, said retainer having an external thread, the external thread being engageable with the internal thread of the housing to trap the ball within the housing, the retainer maintaining a seal between the ball and the housing via pressure of a lubricant on the ball; 
 another curved seat adjacent the lower end of the retainer to seat and engage a second portion of the curved surface of the ball; and 
 a removable securing member, the securing member includes external threads and an opening that is operable to receive a tool that can rotate the securing member relative to the housing, the securing member further includes a portion that biases directly against the circular non-threaded surface of the retainer to form a stop to prevent the retainer from axially disengaging from the housing, the retainer can be selectively removed from the housing by removal of the securing member, wherein said securing member and retainer are adapted to be selectively separated from said housing allowing said elongated shaft to be removed from said housing, a replacement shaft to be inserted inside said housing and the retainer to be re-secured to said housing, while the housing remains attached to a suspension system. 
 
     
     
       19. The ball joint as claimed in  claim 18 , where said attachment feature is a threadlike feature that is on the outside surface of the housing, said threadlike feature being capable of attaching the housing to a support arm of a suspension system. 
     
     
       20. The ball joint as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said attachment feature is a flange extending from a portion of the housing that can be secured to a support arm by at least one detachable fastener. 
     
     
       21. The ball joint as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said attachment feature is a compression fit of the housing into an opening in a suspension member. 
     
     
       22. The ball joint as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising a lubricating port located in the upper surface of the retainer, the lubricating port providing a passageway for delivering pressurized lubricant, said pressurized lubricant exerts a pressure against the flat to maintain pressure on the ball. 
     
     
       23. A metal ball joint assembly for use with a vehicle suspension system comprising:
 an elongated shaft having an upper end, a lower end, and a tapered portion extending between the upper and lower ends, the lower end includes threads for connecting to a vehicle; 
 a ball near the upper end of the shaft, said ball having a continuous curved surface extending upwardly at a point along the shaft, the ball further having a flat surface located at a distal end of the shaft; 
 a housing having an exterior mounting surface, an internal thread and an arcuate shaped seat, the seat engages the curved surface of the ball, an opening is formed in the housing for passage therethrough of the elongated shaft but not permitting passage therethrough of the ball such as to permit pivotal movement of the elongated shaft relative to the housing, the exterior mounting surface of the housing is mountable to a suspension member of a vehicle; 
 a retainer body having an upper area, a curved non-threaded surface, a lower area, a thread portion and a curved seat, the curved seat engages the curved surface of the ball near the flat surface; and 
 a stop that is screwed into a bore of the housing, the stop includes external threads and an aperture that is operable to receive a tool that can rotate the stop, the stop further includes a portion that biases directly against the curved non-threaded surface of the retainer body, the stop maintains the retainer and shaft in place relative to the housing when the stop is screwed into the bore, when the stop is unscrewed from the bore, the retainer and shaft can be removed from the housing, the step of removing the stop can be done while the housing remains mounted to a suspension member of a vehicle.